Sam Rockwell's starring in Conviction at the moment, but when we got a chance to talk to him earlier this month we took the chance to ask him about his upcoming role in Cowboys & Aliens, one of the more exciting films headed our way this summer. And he spilled the beans on what his character is going to be doing.

"My wife gets taken by the aliens, and so I go on a journey with the rest of the cowboys to find her, and get involved in the big final battle. I ride a horse too, a pretty smooth one called Fred."

He also explained one of his favourite moments in the film, and the improv that led to it. "I play the town's barkeep and ex-doctor. There's a scene where I'm in the gang camp and [Daniel Craig's] Jake pulls his gun on everybody. As we were shooting that, I had the impulse to grab the weapon from the guy next to me: 'Fuck it, I'm grabbing this gun, man! I need a gun!' And now we've added in scenes before and after to make it into a whole thread for my character."

And if there are any casting directors out there listening, he's still up for playing a superhero, should the chance present itself. "I know it'd take some doing to convince some people, but I think I'd be a great one. I've played Batman [in online 2007 short Robin's Big Date] but I've never had superpowers and I'd love to get some."

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Wouldn't we all, Sam? Conviction is out now, and you can read more from Rockwell, including the story on Iron Man 2 and even his role in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, in the new issue of Empire, on sale now.